Here's why cloves should absolutely be planted in an orange

Due to humidity, tobacco or pet dander, our interior does not always smell fresh. Several air fresheners are available in supermarkets to perfume your interior. However, you can infuse your home with a pleasant scent in a more economical and natural way thanks to ingredients at your fingertips. Find out how to scent your home with an orange and cloves.

A home that smells good gives a feeling of comfort and well-being. To perfume your interior, you can opt for natural ingredients such as citrus fruits and cloves.

Orange and cloves – Source: spm

How to perfume the house with an orange and cloves?

The trick is simple: Just take a firm orange and prick it with cloves. Thus, you are going to get what is called an amber apple. Note that you can replace the orange with a citrus fruit of your choice such as lemon or grapefruit.

For a little reminder of the history of the apple of amber, the latter was not an orange during the Middle Ages, but a gold or silver receptacle in which one put a piece of ambergris or fragrant spices such as cinnamon, clove or musk. The apple of amber served as a room fragrance in castles and bourgeois houses. During the Renaissance, the amber apple became a jewel worn around the neck or on the belt to ward off the evil eye. Currently, amber apples are natural deodorants, used to perfume the house, but also to decorate it at the approach of the end of year celebrations, especially Christmas.

Amber apple – Source: spm

To make an amber apple and embalm your house, you will need:

Delineate 4 equal quarters of your orange using two pieces of masking tape. Pierce lines of tight holes in each quarter using the knitting needle. The adhesive tape must not be pierced. Then push the cloves into the rind to cover your entire orange.

Pour the spices of your choice into a hollow container and roll your orange in the dish to wrap it in fragrant spices. This step is optional, so you can skip it if you don't want your amber apple to look dusty.

Let your amber apple dry for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm, dry place. Thus, your orange will be able to dehydrate and diffuse a pleasant perfume.

And finally, remove the pieces of tape and replace them with decorative tape. This one will be used to hang your amber apple on the Christmas tree or in any room you want to perfume.

Amber apple – Source: spm

What are the other uses of an orange studded with cloves?

Apart from fragrancing and decorating the house, the amber apple is also effective in keeping insects away.

If you want to get rid of the mosquitoes that parasitize your sleep, just prick an orange with cloves and keep it on your bedside. Mosquitoes hate the smell of orange. If you don't have an orange, you can use lemons to make your mosquito repellent. Amber apple is also effective in keeping flies and moths away from your home. These insects indeed hate the smell of cloves.

What are the other tips for scenting the house?

Ideal for scenting the home, essential oils offer a variety of refreshing scents. Opt for lavender or chamomile essential oil to diffuse a floral scent, or even peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil to freshen the air in your home. For this, pour a few drops of essential oil in a spray containing water, and spray your solution in the rooms of your house to eliminate unpleasant odors. However, the use of essential oils is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and for young children.

This natural air freshener will allow you to fight against bad odors and clean the indoor air. For this, mix in a Mason jar a cup of baking soda with 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice. For more scents, add to this mixture a teaspoon of dried aromatic herbs such as mint or lavender. Close the lid of your pot and stir it well. You will then only have to deposit a small quantity of this mixture in cups that you will disperse in the rooms that you want to perfume. You can also place them at the back of your wardrobe or closet to remove the musty smell on your clothes.

That said, thanks only to an orange and cloves, you will be able to bring freshness to your home, but also to decorate it, as Christmas approaches.

Read also How to drive safely in winter? 6 essential things to do before taking the car